One of the most contentious elections in recent American history is now in the books and North Carolinians are confronting some important lessons — some painful and some encouraging — from the results. Please join us for a very special Crucial Conversation as NC Policy Watch Director Chris Fitzsimon discusses the election results, where things stand and what’s on the horizon for the progressive movement in North Carolina with a panel of four knowledgeable experts:

Todd Barlow is Public Affairs Counsel at the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, where he helps spearhead the organization’s legislative program and closely monitors state electoral politics.

Professor J. Michael Bitzer is a professor of politics and Provost at Catawba College. He teaches a wide variety of courses in American politics, public administration, public policy and law.

Cash Michaels is a veteran journalist and contributing writer to the Winston-Salem Chronicle and the Wilmington Journal, two North Carolina-based African-American newspapers.

Sarah Preston is the Executive Director of Lillian’s List, an organization that works to recruit, train, promote and support pro-choice progressive women running for public office in North Carolina.